Recirculating and drain system



RECIRCULATING AND DRAIN SYSTEM Filed May 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fut-11k INVENTOR VIRGIL KENNETH STEIDLEY BY v ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1960 v. K. STEIDLEY 2,962,048

I RECIRCULATING AND DRAIN SYSTEM Filed May 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR VIRGIL KENNETH STEIDLEY F 'G.3 Y

ATTORNEYS RECIRCULATINGAND 'DRAIN SYSTEM Virgil Kenneth Steidley, Mansfield, hio, assignor to Gorman-Rupp Industries, Inc., Bellville, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 27,1959, Ser. N0. 816,199

Claims; (Cl; 137-565) The invention relates to a recirculating and drain system for automatic dishwashers and the like, and more particularly to an improved ball drain valve which is caused to float from recirculating position to draining position by controlling the operation of the recirculating pump.

In certain prior systems, various kinds of valve mechanisms have been employed, one valve mechanism for controlling recirculation and another for controlling drainage. This requires a relatively complicated timing mechanism. Such valve mechanisms are apt to become clogged with food particles which interferes with proper closing action. Moreover, these prior systems do not provide for complete drainage of the wash water from the tub, and hence some of the food particles are recirculated during the drain cycle.

In the present drain valve, a floating ball is the only moving part and it is self-cleaning so that there is'nothing to become clogged. Further, a single ball floats between two seats to close the drain during the recirculating cycle, and to close off the tub during the drain cycle.

Other objects of the invention include providing a simple and effective system in which the draining and recirculating is accomplished by a single motor, and in which substantially all the food particles 'are removed from the tub during the drain cycle and not recirculated during the drain cycle.

These and other objects are accomplished by the improvements comprising the present invention, preferred embodiments of which are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, and described in detail in the following specification. Various modifications and changes in details of construction are comprehended within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the improved system in cross section as applied to the tub or reservoir of an automatic dishwasher and the like.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification.

Fig. 3 is a similar View of another modification.

Referring to Fig. 1, the tub of a dishwasher is indicated at 10, with the recirculating and drain connections at the bottom thereof. The usual means for spraying or agitating the water as it is being recirculated into the tub is not shown as it forms no part of the present invention. Suffice it to say that any conventional means for agitating the water or spraying it over the dishes may be used. The recirculating pump may be controlled in a usual manner by an electric timer, and appropriate electrical circuits are provided to cause the water to be recirculated and sprayed for desired washing periods, followed by draining periods.

As shown in Fig. 1, the tub 10 preferably has its drain port 11 at a somewhat lower level than its recirculating connection 12. Coupled to the drain port 11 by a suitable sleeve 13 is the upper open neck 14 of a reservoir casing 15, and at the bottom end of'the casing is another open neck 16 to which a preferably flexible tube 17 is United States Patent o Patented Nov. '29; '1960 ice other leg-'26 of which is connected to the drain pipe 27 which may be an upright gooseneck discharging into a suitable waste receptacle'28.

Preferably, the leg 25 of Y fitting 24 is connected by a coupling sleeve 30 to the annular flange 31 of a bushing 32 comprising the connection 12 and secured in an opening in the bottom wall of the tub by a nut 33. The flange 31 has an annular resilientgasket'34 therein which acts as a resilient seat for the ball 35 in the phantom position.

The fitting 36 screwed on the end of leg 26 is connected tov gooseneck 27, and is provided with an annular resilient gasket 38 which acts as a resilient seat for the ball 35 to close off the drain connection.

The fitting 36 may have a venturi passageway 40 therein, and a tube 41 connects passageway 46 to the reservoir 15 for a purpose to be described.

In the operation of the system shown in Fig. 1, assume that the tub-10 has been emptied by the pump 18 during the previous drain cycle, and the water flowing back from the gooseneck by gravity after the pump is stopped assumes the level A in the reservoir 15. Some water may remain in the bottom of the gooseneck and in leg 26. of the Y below the level B defined by passageway 40 so that the leg 26 functions as a sump. The ball 35 may be of plastic such as polyethylene, and is made to have a specific gravity approaching that of water, for example about .93, so as to have a'low flotation characteristic; in other words, it floats nearly submerged. Accordingly, the full line position of the ball 35 in Fig. 1 shows it partly submerged and resting on the bottom of leg 26 against the lower part of seat 38.

Now, when water is introduced into the tub of a suitable fill line (not shown), the timer starts the pump 18 and the discharge from the pump through tube 19 forces the ball 35 tightly against the seat 38 and closes off the drain connection. When the level C in the tub is reached, the fill is shut off automatically by any suitable means. As the pump continues to operate, water is circulated through connection 12 into the tub and drawn out of the tub through opening 11, into reservoir 15, and then through the inlet tube 17 to the pump.

When each recirculating cycle is finished, the timer shuts off the pump for a short interval, say 30 seconds, and, the Y being full of water, the ball floats to the phantom position shown, in contact with the upper seat 34. The time required for the ball to float to the phantom position can be controlled to some extent, for example, by changing the length of the leg 26 of the Y. The timer again starts the pump and the discharge through tube 19 forces the ball tightly against seat 34 to close off the connection to the tub, and pumps the water from the reservoir and tub out through the drain pipe 27 until substantially all of the water from the tub and reservoir has been exhausted, when the timer again shuts off the pump. The ball 35 immediately drops to the level of the water in leg 26 and the water in drain line 27 flows back into the Y and through tube 23 into the pump. The capacity of the reservoir 15 is suflicient to take all of the flow-back water and maintain its level A about its level B, so that the ball will seek the full line position at the bottom of leg 26 in readiness for the next recirculating cycle.

It will be seen that during each drain cycle substantially all of the water is exhausted from the system, so that during the succeeding recirculating cycle substantially all foreign matter, such as food particles washed from dishes in the tub, will have gone out the drain and not be recirculated into the tub.

The purpose of the tube 41 is to insure that when the pump is started the ball does not float up into leg 25 of the Y. Without the tube 41, when the pump is started, the first surge of water may pass the ball before it seats on gasket 38, and if a head of water is thus established in the drain pipe above the level already established in the leg 26, the pressure head in the drain pipe would tend to float the ball away from seat 38 to the seat 34. The pipe 41 allows water in the pipe 27 to flow back to the reservoir and to seek the same level, to insure that the discharge pressure from the pump will positively seat the ball on seat 38. The venturi passageway 40 increases the velocity of the water pumped to the drain pipe when the ball is seated on gasket 34, to minimize or prevent back flow through pipe 41 during the drain cycle.

In the modified systems shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a small drain pump is provided in addition to the recirculating pump, but both pumps are driven from the same motor. Although the drain pump runs at the same time as the recirculating pump, it will discharge water to drain only under certain conditions controlled by the sequence of cycles and the entrance and discharge of the liquid in the tub.

Referring to Fig. 2, the tub of the dishwasher is indicated at 110, and the bottom wall of the tub has a drain connection indicated generally at 111, a suction neck 112A for connection to the suction tube of a centrifugal pump 118, and a discharge neck 112B for connection with the dsicharge tube 119 of the pump. As shown, the neck 112A is connected to the suction tube of the pump by a flexible tube 117, and the discharge neck 11213 is connected to the discharge tube 119 by a flexible tube 122.

The pump shaft 121 is driven by a suitable electric motor M, and the motor shaft 144 is operatively connected by a belt 145 to the impeller 146 of a small centrifugal pump D having an inlet tube 147 and discharge tube 148. The discharge tube 148 is connected to a drain pipe 127 and the inlet tube is connected to an open neck 116 at the bottom of a sump 124, the upper end of which is connected to the drain connection 111 of the tub. An annular gasket 150 provides a seat around the neck 116 for the ball 135, and an annular gasket 151 in the drain connection 111 provides a seat for the ball in the phantom position shown.

In the operation of the system shown in Fig. 2, assuming the tub to be empty, the timer starts the motor M to operate the pumps 118 and 146 and the water fill line is opened. Since the sump 124 is empty, or nearly so, the ball will be lying in the bottom of the sump and the suction of the drain pump will immediately force the ball against the seat 150 and shut olf the connection to the drain pipe. Water will then fill the tub to the predetermined level and the pump 118 Will recirculate water from the suction connection 112A back to the discharge connection 1123 and to the tub, so that the water can be sprayed in any desired fashion. At the end of a recirculating cycle the timer will stop the motor M for a short interval and the ball 135 will float upwardly through the water in sump 124 and assume the phantom position against the seat 151. The timer again starts the motor and the drain pump D will discharge water from the sump through the drain pipe 127 while the pump 118 is also recirculating water through the tub. The water will continue to be pumped to the drain pipe as the level is lowered in the sump 124 until the ball 135 reaches the bottom of the sump, and the ball is forced against the seat 150 by the suction of the drain pump. The pump 118 can continue to run while Water is again introduced into the tub to the desired predetermined level, and recirculating and drain cycles are then repeated.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the tub 210 has a drain connection 211 which is connected by tube 217 to the inlet of a centrifugal recirculating pump 218. The discharge tube 219 of the pump is connected to a tube 253 in the side of a sump receptacle 224, the upper end of which is connected to a recirculating connection 212. The lower end of the receptacle 224 has an open neck 216 which is connected to the inlet 247 of a drain pump having a discharge tube 248 connected to the drain pipe 227.

A gasket 250 around the neck 216 provides a seat for the ball 235 when it is at the bottom of the receptacle 224 and a gasket 251 in the recirculating connection 212 provides a seat for the ball in its phantom position. The drain pump D is operated by means of a belt 245 from the motor (not shown) which drives pump 218.

The operation of the system shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that the ball 235 is subjected to the discharge pressure of the pump 218, and when the ball is seated against the upper gasket 251 the water from the tub will be drawn into the drain opening 211 and pumped out of the drain opening 216 in the sump 224 without any recirculation of water back to the tub. When the lowering level of water in receptacle 224 drops the ball from the seat 251 and goes below the opening 253, the drain pump D will continue to draw Water from the receptacle until the ball is sucked against the seat 250.

What is claimed is:

1. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwasher and the like comprising a tub, a sump receptacle connected to the bottom of said tub, a drain pipe connected to the bottom of said receptacle, a ball in said receptacle adapted to float toward a position to close off the drain pipe when the liquid level in the receptacle is lowered and to float to a position to close off the tub connection when the receptacle is filled with liquid, and a pump for forcing said ball toward said drain pipe connection when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered.

2. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwasher and the like comprising a tub, a sump receptacle connected to the bottom of said tub, a drain pipe connected to the bottom of said receptacle, a ball in said receptacle adapted to float toward a position to close off the drain pipe when the liquid level in the receptacle is lowered and to float to a position to close oif the tub connection when the receptacle is filled with liquid, said ball having a specific gravity to cause it to be substantially submerged when floating in said liquid, and a pump for forcing said ball toward said drain pipe connection when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered.

3. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwasher and the like comprising a tub having a drain outlet in its bottom, a pump having its suction connected to said drain outlet, a receptacle connected at its top end to the tub, a drain pipe connected to the bottom end of said receptacle, means connecting the pump discharge to said receptacle between its ends, and a ball in said receptacle adapted to float toward a position to close off the drain pipe when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered and to float to a position to close off the tub when the receptacle is filled with liquid.

4. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwasher and the like comprising a tub having a drain outlet in its bottom, a pump having its suction connected to said drain outlet, a receptacle connected at its top end to the tub, a drain pipe connected to the bottom end of said receptacle, means connecting the pump discharge to said receptacle between its ends, and a ball in said receptacle adapted to float toward a position to close oif the drain pipe when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered and to float to a position to close off the tub when the receptacle is filled with liquid, said ball having a specific gravity to cause it to be substantially submerged when floating in said liquid.

5. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwasher and the like comprising a tub having a drain outlet in its bottom, a pump having its suction connected to said drain outlet, a receptacle connected at its top end to the tub, means connecting the pump discharge to said receptacle between its ends, a drain pipe, a drain pump connecting said drain pipe to the bottom end of said receptacle, and a ball in said receptacle adapted to float to a position closing ofi the drain pump when the liquid in said receptacle is emptied and to float to a position closing ofl said tub when the receptacle is filled with liquid.

6. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwater and the like comprising a tub having a drain outlet in its bottom, a receptacle connected at its top end to said tub, an upright drain pipe connected to the bottom end of said receptacle for discharging water from its top end, means connecting the pump discharge to said receptacle between its ends, a floating ball in said receptacle adapted to close oil the drain pipe when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered and adapted to close 01? the tub when the receptacle is filled, a reservoir connected to said tub outlet extending below said pump, and means connecting the suction side of said pump to the bottom of said reservoir.

7. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwater and the like comprising a tub having a drain outlet in its bottom, a receptacle connected at its top end to said tub, an upright drain pipe connected to the bottom end of said receptacle for discharging water from its top end, means connecting the pump discharge to said receptacle between its ends, a floating ball in said receptacle adapted to close off the drain pipe when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered and adapted to close off the tub when the receptacle is filled, a reservoir connected to said tub outlet extending below said pump, and means connecting the suction side of said pump to the bottom of said reservoir, the capacity of said reservoir being such as to maintain its liquid level about equal to the bottom of said receptacle when said pump is not operating and said tub has been drained.

8. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwasher and the like comprising a tub having a drain outlet in its bottom, a receptacle connected at its top end to said tub, an upright drain pipe connected to the bottom end of said receptacle for discharging water from its top end, means connecting the pump discharge to said receptacle between its ends, a floating ball in said receptacle adapted to close ofl the drain pipe when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered and adapted to close off the tub when the receptacle is filled, said ball having a specific gravity to cause it to be substantially submerged when floating in said liquid, a reservoir connected to said tub outlet extending below said pump, and means connecting the suction side of said pump to the bottom of said reservoir, the capacity of said reservoir being such as to maintain its liquid level about equal to the bottom of said receptacle when said pump is not operating and said tub has been drained.

9. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwasher and the like comprising a tub having a drain outlet in its bottom, a receptacle connected at its top end to said tub, an upright drain pipe connected to the bottom end of said receptacle for discharging water from its top end, means connecting the pump discharge to said receptacle between its ends, a floating ball in said receptacle adapted to close off the drain pipe when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered and adapted to close 01f the tub when the receptacle is filled, a reservoir connected to said tub drain outlet extending below said pump, means connecting the suction side of said pump to the bottom of said reservoir, and a conduit connecting the bottom of said drain pipe to said reservoir.

10. A recirculating and drain system for a dishwasher and the like comprising a tub having a drain outlet in its bottom, a receptacle connected at its top end to said tub, an upright drain pipe connected to the bottom end of said receptacle for discharging water from its top end, means connecting the pump discharge to said receptacle between its ends, a floating ball in said receptacle adapted to close oil the drain pipe when the liquid level in said receptacle is lowered and adapted to close off the tub when the receptacle is filled, a reservoir connected to said tub outlet extending below said pump, means connecting the suction side of said pump to the bottom of said reservoir, the capacity of said reservoir being such as to maintain its liquid level about equal to the bottom of said receptacle when said pump is not operating and said tub has been drained, and a conduit connecting the bottom of said drain pipe to said reservoir.

No references cited.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No 2962 048 November 29, 1960 Virgil Kenneth Steidley It is hereby certified'that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 line 42, for "the tub of" read the tub by line 69, for "about its level" read about at level Signed and sealed this 20th day of June 1961.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER I DAVID L. LADD Atte ing O fi 7 Commissioner of Patents 

